Canberra have jumped to fifth on the NRL ladder with another close-run win, this time holding off Gold Coast 26-22 at GIO Stadium.
The Raiders led 12-0 early and looked on track for a big result before a Titans fightback forced them to once again grind out a narrow victory, their 10th success of the season by eight points or less.
Queensland State of Origin hopeful Corey Horsburgh did all he could to seal his spot in Billy Slater’s 17 for game three with a workmanlike 110m, 46-tackle display.
But it was NSW representative Hudson Young who sealed the win, powering over from close range six minutes from time to give his Raiders an eight-point buffer.
Gold Coast captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui scored with two minutes left to give his side the smallest of chances for a comeback.
Titans powerhouse David Fifita had done everything possible to keep his side in it, running for 146m, scoring a first-half try and producing a stunning try assist for Alofiana Khan-Pereira to get them back within two points with 18 to go.
Having threatened to throw away a 12-point advantage, Canberra got a huge boost when Matt Timoko ran the length of the field to score on 50 minutes and break them 18-10 clear.
In a potential 12-point swing, Titans winger Khan-Pereira had looked certain to score before a diving try-saver from Canberra halfback Jamal Fogarty, with the Raiders gathering the loose ball and running 100m.
But it was a hard call to cop for Titans fans, aggrieved the try was given with referee Todd Smith playing advantage for a knock-on when Khan-Pereira lost the ball.
It was the second controversial call against the visitors, denied an equalising try on halftime with Fifita judged to have pushed Fogarty in chasing a kick, although it appeared the Raiders halfback had stopped in the line to deny him scoring.
Canberra scored in the first set of the match via winger Albert Hopoate and soon after, No.1 Seb Kris flew high to ground Fogarty’s on-point kick.
Fifita got the Titans on the board, first offloading to Khan-Pereira before gathering the winger’s grubber to score.
But after being denied their equaliser, Jojo Fifita quickly knotted things up after the break courtesy of a smart ball from AJ Brimson.
Likely Maroons No.1 Brimson was solid and threw a great try assist although he looked shaky under the high ball at times, completely losing track of a Jack Wighton spiral bomb.
By Alex Mitchell in Canberra
